Questions to Ask Before Adopting

If you're considering adopting a child, one of the most important things you can do is to collect as much information as possible. "When a family begins looking to adopt, they don't realize how much they don’t know," suggests Susan Soon-Keum Cox, vice president of public policy and external affairs for Holt International Children's Services. "The more you know at the front end of adopting, the better off you’ll be."

For example, when adoptive parents are searching for an adoption agency, adoption lawyer or facilitator, Cox advises them to ask

• if they’re non-profit or for-profit. If the motivating factor is profit, that might not be a good match for your own beliefs. And just because an agency is non-profit, that doesn't mean there aren't expenses involved.
• if their license has ever been revoked and why.
• for their audited financial statements. If they say "no," ask "why not?"
• about their post-adoption support.
• what kind of support they supply while in the other country.
• if they require the overseas fee in cash, and who delivers the money.

Read more expert tips and advice on adopting a child.